Intanza

influenza vaccine (split virion, inactivated)

About

This is a summary of the European public assessment report (EPAR) for Intanza. It explains how the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) assessed the medicine to reach its opinion in favour of granting a marketing authorisation and its recommendations on the conditions of use for Intanza.

Intanza is a vaccine, which is available as a suspension for injection in a pre‑filled syringe. The vaccine contains fragments of influenza (flu) viruses that have been inactivated (treated to prevent them causing infection). Intanza contains 15 micrograms of each of three different strains (varieties) of influenza virus (an H1N1 subtype, A/California/7/2009, NYMC X-179A; an H3N2 subtype, A/Hong Kong/4801/2014, NYMC X-263B; and a type B, B/Brisbane/60/2008, wild type).

Intanza is used to vaccinate adults aged 60 years and over against flu, especially those who are at an increased risk of developing complications from the disease. The use of the vaccine should be based on official recommendations.

Intanza is a vaccine. Vaccines work by ‘teaching’ the immune system (the body’s natural defences) how to defend itself against a disease. Intanza contains fragments from three different strains of flu virus. When a person is given the vaccine, the immune system recognises the virus fragments as ‘foreign’ and makes antibodies against them. In the future, the immune system will be able to produce antibodies more quickly when it is exposed to any of these virus strains. The antibodies will then help to protect against the disease caused by these strains of flu virus.

Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) makes recommendations on which flu strains should be included in vaccines for the upcoming flu season. Fragments of the virus strains that are expected to cause flu in the upcoming season, according to the recommendations from the WHO for the northern hemisphere and from the European Union (EU), need to be included in Intanza before the vaccine can be used.

The ability of Intanza to trigger the production of antibodies (immunogenicity) was first assessed in five main studies involving almost 9,000 people. Three studies looked at people aged 60 years and over, who were vaccinated with the 15-microgram strength. Two other studies looked at use of a lower strength in people under the age of 60.

In all studies, Intanza was compared with another flu vaccine given by injection into a muscle. In one study in people aged 60 years and over, Intanza was compared with a flu vaccine containing an adjuvant (a compound added to enhance the immune response). The studies compared the ability of the vaccines to trigger the production of antibodies (immunogenicity) by comparing antibody levels before injection and three weeks afterwards.

The immunogenicity and safety of subsequent formulations of the vaccine have also been examined in studies.

In the five original studies, both Intanza and the comparator vaccine brought about adequate levels of antibodies for protection against all three flu strains. In people aged 60 years and over, the 15-microgram strength provided as good a level of protection as the comparator vaccines.

Later seasonal formulations of Intanza have been shown to bring about similar antibody responses against the three flu strains included in the vaccine to those seen in the main studies.

The most common side effects with Intanza (seen in more than 1 patient in 10) are headache, muscle pain and local reactions at the site of the vaccination (redness, swelling, hardening of the skin, pain and itching). For the full list of all side effects reported with Intanza, see the package leaflet.

Intanza must not be used in people who are hypersensitive (allergic) to the active substances, to any of the other ingredients, or to any component that may be present in very small amounts such as egg (ovalbumin, chicken proteins), neomycin, formaldehyde or octoxinol 9. People who have a fever or an acute (short-lived) infection should not receive the vaccine until they have recovered.

Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Intanza have been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.

Pharmacotherapeutic group

Vaccines

Therapeutic indication

Prophylaxis of influenza in individuals 60 years of age and over, especially in those who run an increased risk of associated complications.The use of Intanza should be based on official recommendations.